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Bagon, the Dragon-type Pokémon, evolves into the formidable Salamence, and you can add it to your team in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. However, if you're playing Pokémon Scarlet, you won't find Bagon or its evolutions in the wild since they are exclusive to Pokémon Violet. To complete your Paldea Pokédex, you'll need to catch Bagon, Shelgon, and Salamence.
Updated on January 13, 2025 by Renri Seong: Bagon, a Dragon-type, evolves into the powerful Salamence, which you can have on your team in Pokémon Violet. There are multiple ways to catch Bagon and even its evolved form, Shelgon. For those playing Pokémon Scarlet, transferring a Bagon from Pokémon Violet is necessary to complete the Pokédex. Like Dragonite, Salamence is a Dragon/Flying-type pseudo-legendary with a base stat total of 600. This guide has been updated to include detailed information on Salamence's stats, type effectiveness, and recommended moves.
Where to Find Bagon
Bagon Location in Pokemon Violet
In Pokémon Violet, you can find Bagon in several locations, but starting in East Province (Area Three) is recommended due to its expansive size and numerous caves to explore.
If you're still in the starting area, you can catch a fixed spawn Bagon on a mountain in South Province (Area Five). Climb the mountain located southwest of the bridge connecting the grassy and rocky regions of South Province (Area Five).
Another recommended spot is Dalizapa Passage, north of The Great Crater of Paldea and south of Glaseado Mountain. Upon arrival, you'll find a deep hole with a Pokémon Center nearby. You can either ride Koraidon or Miraidon to jump down the hole or walk down through one of the cavern entrances. This location, while less open than East Province, offers a chance to encounter rare Pokémon like Bagon and Frigibax.
For those interested in raids, you can catch Bagon in 3-star Tera Raids, which become available after obtaining three gym badges. Note that Bagon's Tera Type may differ from its regular type in raids, and Pokémon caught from 3-star Raids may have their Hidden Ability, which could be a consideration when hunting for Bagon.
How to Get Bagon in Pokemon Scarlet
How to Trade and Transfer Pokemon
Since you can't catch Bagon or its evolutions in Pokémon Scarlet, you'll need to trade with a Pokémon Violet player or transfer Bagon using Pokémon HOME. To trade, you can create or join a Group via the Union Circle, but you'll need a Nintendo Switch Online Membership for online features. Transferring Bagon from another game using Pokémon HOME might be easier.
- Open Pokémon HOME, then select the game you're transferring Bagon from.
- Move Bagon to your Basic Box (left side of the screen), save, and exit.
- Open your Pokémon Scarlet file and transfer Bagon from the Basic Box to one of your Scarlet PC Boxes.
- Save and exit.
When you reopen Pokémon Scarlet, Bagon should be in the designated PC Box, and its Pokédex entry will be complete.
How to Evolve Bagon into Shelgon and Salamence
What Level Does Bagon Evolve
To evolve Bagon, you need to level it up to 30, at which point it will evolve into Shelgon. Then, level Shelgon up to 50 to evolve it into Salamence. The fastest way to do this is by having Bagon or Shelgon auto-battle Pokémon around their level.
If you're not focusing on EV training, have your Bagon or Shelgon auto-battle high-experience Pokémon like Chansey, found in East Province (Area Two), North Province (Areas One-Three), Casseroya Lake, and West Province (Areas Two-Three).
Alternatively, you can use Exp. Candy to level up Bagon or Shelgon quickly. Exp. Candy L or Exp. Candy XL will boost their level significantly, while Exp. Candy M can also work, though you might need more pieces to evolve Shelgon into Salamence.
You can also obtain Shelgon and Salamence from 4-star and 5/6-star Tera Raids, respectively.
Is Salamence Good?
Salamence Strengths & Weaknesses
Salamence, alongside Metagross, is a pseudo-legendary from Generation 3. Pseudo-legendary Pokémon are non-legendary with a base stat total of 600, making them highly sought after for competitive play.
| HP: | 95 | | Attack: | 135 | | Special Attack: | 110 | | Defense: | 80 | | Special Defense: | 80 | | Speed: | 100 | | Total: | 600 |
A recommended Nature for Salamence is Adamant (+Attk, -Sp.Attk) or Lonely (+Attk, -Def).
Salamence is a Dragon/Flying-type Pokémon, making it super effective against other Dragon-types. However, its dual-typing gives it a significant weakness to Ice-type moves.
| Super-effective against: | Dragon, | | Weaknesses: | Ice (x4), Fairy, Dragon, Rock, | | Resistances: | Grass (x1/4), Water, Fire, Fighting, Bug | | Immunities: | Ground |
Recommended Moves
Salamence's move set leans heavily towards physical attacks, which complements its high Attack stat. Opt for moves like Dragon Claw over Dragon Breath, a special move. To counter its weaknesses to Fairy and Rock types, you can teach Salamence Iron Head using TM099.
Although Salamence's Attack stat is higher, its Special Attack isn't negligible. If you prefer to train Salamence as a special attacker, consider a Timid (+Spd, -Attk) Nature instead of Adamant or Lonely. As a special attacker, Salamence can make good use of moves like Draco Meteor and Flamethrower.
